Nikon D50 review

Canon's EOS 350D is selling faster than the latest Harry Potter, so it's clear the competition has to come up with something pretty special to stem the tide.

Nikon is pinning its hopes on the D50, a 6.1 megapixel digital SLR capable of producing images at 3008 x 2000 pixels.

The D50 uses SD memory for storage and accepts the full range of Nikon lenses. The kit model we tested was supplied with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens, and this is one area in which the D50 is more attractive than the Canon EOS 350D. The higher quality of this optic is sure to increase the popularity of this camera to those without a commitment to one lens system or another.

This SLR is comfortable to operate. Being slightly larger than the Canon EOS 350D, it should appeal to those with bigger hands, as the front grip is more pronounced. There are two minor issues, though. First, the plastic body is a little cheap looking and, although the construction feels solid, the finish does detract from the overall feel. Second, the selection wheel for changing various options is on the back of the camera. This is only a problem if you like to hold the camera close to your face, but it means your thumb can get in the way of your head. The D50 also boasts a decent 2in LCD screen, which is sharp, clear and larger than that of the D70.

It has five autofocus areas for increased accuracy and speed, while single and continuous-focus modes are also available. Further, the D50 benefits from Nikon's Colour Matrix Metering II system for more accurate exposures.

Most digital SLRs use an option dial, and this model is no exception. The dial, which sits on the top of the camera, offers portrait, landscape, child, sports, close-up and night portrait modes, as well as manual, shutter priority, aperture priority and automatic modes for more advanced users. For novices there's a fully automatic mode that enables you to use the D50 as an expensive, but not so compact, idiot-proof camera.

The operating system's interface is clear and, once you've had a few minutes to get to grips with the bouncing icons and large print menu options, easy to use. That said, it's not as immediately user friendly as some others.

The quality of the images captured by the D50 was at the higher end of what we have seen from budget D-SLRs, and Nikon should be commended for this. We were particularly pleased with the strong and accurate colour reproduction, and skin tones were accurate and gave the subject a natural look. The automatic metering and white balance options coped well both indoors and out, producing a string of excellent images. We were impressed by the detail picked out by the D50, and the sharp and noiseless images.

The camera has a USB 2 connection that provides data transfer for those without a card reader, while power is supplied from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that Nikon claims lasts for 2000 shots. We didn't test this, but at the minimum we'd expect the battery to get you through the most intensive of day trips before needing a refresh.

If you're thinking of buying a D-SLR and aren't tied to any particular lens manufacturer, then the Nikon D50 won't disappoint. The range of features and excellent build and image quality make it a very likeable device. The plastic finish isn't to everyone's taste and the single mode dial on the back can get in the way, but otherwise the D50 is spot on. It's not the first budget D-SLR to hit the shelves but it's one of our favourites.